Nothing to do with Henson's post

At the start of the season we were playing some excellent football. We had an even share of possession or better in every game, We were in almost every game and were unlucky to not have more points (last minute penalties and own goals cost us five points but even then we were going at a point per game which is about enough). It wasn't crash bang wallop football so it wasn't universally popular, but it was getting us by.

It was frustrating that we weren't creating and scoring more, but as a rule when you have the ball the other team can't score. We were also able to get numbers behind the ball more quickly. Our defence was not under as much pressure as it has been lately. It is when we are under pressure and the ball keeps coming back at us that we are likely to creak and concede. Possession certainly isn't everything, but we don't defend well enough to defend for long periods without conceding.

Rather than stick at it and continue to be brave with the ball, and probably in an effort to increase our goal threat, we are falling into the trap of going longer earlier. It isn't good to watch. We don't look any more likely to score, are giving up the ball more cheaply. and are coming under more pressure defensively. We are not picking up as many points. Losing the excellent Shaun MacDonald hasn't helped. He was instrumental in us taking better care of the football.

I have to say that the manager has done what many wanted him to do by going more direct. It hasn't worked and many of those same people now want him out. I am not saying that he changed things because of supporter pressure, but there is a certain irony about it.

We need to go back to what we were doing earlier in the season. We looked very close to being a mid-table side, but in pursuit of better we have lost our way a bit.

I have to admit Henson, as per my post on the other thread I am getting weary of the same old....I'm not a regular supporter these days although I have supported the Millers these last 60 years. (I mention this before the likes of TH and his side kick deride me as being disenfranchised from holding an opinion). I would say however, that I think we need freshening up, get a bit of pep into our game. With the exception of odd flashes of good football I would agree that watching the Millers is a bit like looking forward to a trip to the dentist. Yet we do have some decent players and had some encouraging signings and we have, albeit briefly, played good football, which begs the question why then do we turn out such dire performances the following match. My feeling is we are a squad of individuals rather than a team right now, which is being exploited by better organised sides that are in the championship and we are so thin, we are unable to respond through any effective substitutions. While I was not under any illusion that the season would be anything other than a scrap, it's thus far been little more than a bit of a chore to watch. Time will tell.

Calypso I have been going since the early 60's, I have been fortunate these last 5 years or so to be involved in the financial side of the game with various clubs Not at Rotherham before anyone asks I do talk to a lot of people whose opinions I respect and listen to. We have a low budget, so we need a way of playing that we stick to so we can complete hence the 451 system the high press etc As we know we have been here before Warne failed with this system last time by a fine margin we went down as we did not score enough goals, we lacked creativity in midfield, we did not have enough pace wide and up top and our central striker was not good enough Also crucially we constantly invited pressure by giving the ball away. Two years on I was hoping we had learned the lesson, Smith should have been replaced in the summer and yes we have been unlucky with injuries but a lot of the same mistakes are being made. We looked promising early on but could not score confidence has drained away We need to freshen up the, players need to hear a fresh voice on the training ground I am not saying sack Warne but change something behind the scenes. Warne also needs to get back to basics, drill set plays, play 451, get the pacey wide players in the side, get Ladapo up front play players in their correct positions stop worrying about the competition If we can get to Jan in touch we can do this but the hoof ball will get us no where.

Hprman are you like whiston01 on the horses abit of an anorak regards to Roth U? No problem to me. I'm just a supporter who goes to all the games at the NYS & now watching away games on I follow. Like to think I know what works for us with players we've got. We have no fit left back or wingers good enough. So it's either with wing backs which I'm not convinced about or 4-5-1 with Olosunde & Vassell our wide men. Hopefully get to the next transfer window in touch of safety & strengthen. Move players not good enough on.

Anorak Gwru. Is that your way of saying i have forgotten more than you on horse racing. If it is, this is one of the few times you have been correct. Btw a top post from HensonsPRman.

There’s nothing wrong with getting the ball forward quickly if it has some purpose too it like it did today.

Every ball that went forward had pace and direction on it and the player making the pass knew exactly what area to put it into unlike the previous few games where it’s literally been a lofted ball up in the air and a bit hit and hope.

When we play like we did today that’s where someone like Smith stands out; he gave the Bristol centre backs a hiding today.

Watched the full game last night Well done Warne we went back to the style of football from earlier in the season and we look miles better. We also adapted the 352 shape to solve the left side problem as per the second half at Watford and we looked a lot more comfortable with that shape. We now need to play this way at Blackburn and not sit back